“Doyouknowwhereshelives?”themanaskedsuddenly.

        Dimitriwasatonhisguard.Whywasastrangeraskingabouttheresidenceofasinglewomanhedoesn’tevenknow?

        “Idon’treallyknow”herepliedevasively.“Shouldbesomewherearoundhere.”

        “Good”repliedtheman“I‘msureIwillbeabletofindher.”Dimitriwastroubledbyhiswordsandwasafraidthattherewouldbetrouble.Maureeyincreased,growlingangrilyatthestranger.

        “Myoldfriend,wewillmeetagain,”saidthemanstandingup.Hethrewsomethingonthebendsaid,“Here’ssomecigarettes,thereshouldbehalfapackleft.Thelighter’salsointhere.Enjoy.HestretchedouthishandtostrokeMaureeheangrylittledogtursheadtobitehishandviciously,butthemanwasagileandwithdrewitquicklybeforehecouldbebitten.

        AfterthemaheteuationwasdiffusedandMaureenjumpeddowntothegrassagaintoresumehispursuits.Dimitrisatonthebenchsmokinghiscigaretteandthought,“I’msureIhaveheardhisvoiewherebeforebutIotpceit.IshouldnothavetoldhimthatCharinalivedinthisneighborhood.Ifheisuptomischief,Ihavejustshorteheareaheosearordertofindher.Ihopenothingwillhappen.”Justthen,agroupofpeoplecameontotheseandDimitricouldhearughter,shoutingaedchatterbehindhisbench.Fromthesevoices,Dimitriakeoutthatitwastwofamiliesandtheirchildrenabouttopyagameofsoccer.Thefatherswerethecoachesaherswerethecheerleadersshoutingencements.Dimitriwassurethattheywouldhavebroughtanabundanceoffoodwiththemtohaveasumptuouspiicaftertheballgame.Maureenwaseagertojoininthefun,buthewasnotabletokicktheball,sohewaitedbythesidelines.Wheneveraballrolledout,hewouldrurieveitanddribbleitbacktothegame.ThepyersweredelightedwithMaureenandcriedout.“Goodboy!Goodboy!Youaresosmart”Theywouldshakehispaws,pathisheadandpywithhim.SoonMaureenartofthegameaheveryone.Dimitrithought.

        “Lifeshouldbelikethis,fullofhappinessandughter.Unfortunately,flict,dissentanddiscordfarexceedpeadharmony.”

        Dimitriinhaleddeeplyatwhatwasleftofhiscigarettebefretfullytossitothegroundandsoutwithhisfoot.Thenhepickedupthebuttandputitinhispocket.

        “Hey,olddog,”avoicebesidehimremarked,“Areyoutoostingytothrowawayyarettebutt?”

        “No,I’monlypigituptothrowintothegarbageter”repliedDimitri.Heknewfromthatvoicethatitwasoneofhishomelesspals,adirty,dipidatedbum.

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